Clues about Human Obesity from Dragonfly's Metabolic Disease

This is truly fascinating! A recent article posted on MedicalNewsToday.com reports on some interesting findings from a completely unreated field of study. Evidently dragonfly's that have unusual fat deposits on thier muscles have been determined to have a specific intestinal parasite. One more tiny clue in the giant puzzle of obesity.

Parasitic infection triggers an inflammatory response and immediate changes in metabolism. Unable to metabolize fat, the dragonflies accumulate fat around their muscles. This finding begs the question of whether something similar might be happening in human metabolic diseases, the root causes of which remain poorly understood despite intense study.

"Might disturbances in the microbial balance of human intestines trigger an immune system response that leads to metabolic disease?" Marden and Schilder asked. "More attention should be paid to the microbial balance in the intestines of people who suffer from obesity," said Schilder. "It seems plausible that disturbance in the microbial community in humans might trigger these inflammatory responses." (Read the complete article here.)

And another interesting hypothysis by Nikhil Dhurandhar suggest that a virus is causing obesity in approximately 30% of cases.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin in Madison have found that mice and chickens infected with a common human virus put on much more fat than uninfected animals. They have also discovered that the same virus is more prevalent among overweight people, a strong indication that it may also cause obesity in humans. (Read the complete article here.)

Wow! A virus? Like you can catch obesity? Frightening... is that why some skinny people avoid fat people at all costs? Maybe there's something to it! And I just thought they were rude. :oP